A Friend in the Storm: God Never Wastes Pain, Guest post by Cheryl Ricker

Whatever you’re going through, Christ sees the purpose beyond your here and now.

In 2005 He arranged my friendship with a young wife and mother who was dying of stage four lung cancer.  Chantale invited me into her world for regular visits.  I was nervous because I didn’t know what to say, but God reminded me of my gift to write poetry.  When Chantale said it brought her peace, I kept writing these home and hospice-delivered gifts.

What started as poetry in obscurity has become a faith-building gift book.  Because God never wastes pain, A Friend in the Storm (Zondervan) released in mid-August.

Perhaps you or a loved one are in the midst of an impossible storm, and you’re wondering why a good and loving God would allow this crazy thing to happen.

We don’t know all the answers, but we know that God is love.

For a short while it looked like Jesus was defeated.  Death had won the battle.  The disciples were disillusioned and afraid.

Three days later, everything changed.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18

Dance of Comfort

Just as My arm sweeps over yours,
My strength in you, to others, pours.
My truth in you now long declares,
your love loves stronger while it shares…

A prayer, a touch, a simple smile
reveals My Presence every mile.
There’s always something you can do,
when prayer makes waves ahead of you.

Cheryl Ricker is hosting this great contest over at her website during the blog tour for A Friend in the Storm, Zondervan’s latest innovative gift book of quotes, Scripture and poetry that leads to lasting hope!

Since this book covers matters of the heart, Cheryl wants to hear from YOUR heart! In the midst of any type of loss, grief or crisis, A Friend in the Storm takes you on a healing journey where you experience Christ’s love in a fresh, memorable way. Now she invites you to submit an original poem, story or snippet about a time when someone was a friend in your storm… and she's giving you the opportunity to win a KINDLE to do it!

Head on over to her Contest Page on her website to find out how to enter!

On October 3rd, she will randomly select one winner to receive a brand-new KINDLE! She's also choosing 5 more names at random to receive a signed copy of A Friend in the Storm! The winners will be announced at her Facebook Party on October 4th. The party will take place on Cheryl's Facebook "A Friend in the Storm" Page - go here for all the details.

The Facebook Party will be a blast!  Not only will she be announcing the
Share Your Storm Kindle Giveaway winners, but she'll also be chatting with party goers, hosting fun trivia contests, and giving away even more prizes every 10 minutes – including signed copies of A Friend in the Storm, and gift certificates to Amazon.com and Starbucks.com!

Oh, and check this out - Cheryl is also giving away a $50 Amazon gift certificate! Simply help her spread the word about the contest; Facebook Party. Interested? It’s easy to enter! Here’s how:

Share this on FACEBOOK: Want to help someone who’s hurting? “A Friend in the Storm,” Zondervan’s latest gift book of quotes, Scripture and poetry, is helping thousands find lasting Hope! Go here http://ow.ly/2BYiN to enter to win a KINDLE!

Post this on TWITTER: A Friend in the Storm by @cherylricker heals hearts in tough times. Enter 2 win a KINDLE http://ow.ly/2BYiN here! #litfuse (You must use hashtag #litfuse to be entered.)

Share this as many times as you like – just email amy@litfusegroup.com by October 4th and let her know how many times you tweeted/shared on Facebook, twittered or blogged about the contest. Each ‘sharing’ represents one entry into the contest.

Another way to ‘share’ the contest is to add this button to your blog or website.  Adding the button is worth ten entries into the contest!

Simply copy and paste the code in the text box below into the html screen of your blog/website, then send Amy an email letting her know that you added it along with your URL and she’ll toss your extra entries into the pot.

<a href="http://www.cherylricker.com/contests/"><img alt="Share Your Storm Kindle Giveaway" width="125" src="http://www.litfusegroup.com/images/stories/CherylRFBparty3_3.gif" height="125" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.cherylricker.com/contests/">Share Your Storm Kindle Giveaway</a>

Safety Saturday!!!

For me, fall is always a time of fresh starts.  When I was in school, I used to love getting all of my new school supplies and organizing my notebook with the dividing tabs, my pencil case and the clean paper.  I guess this has carried over into my adulthood because I always get an itch to completely re-organize my home in the fall.

If you have kids in the house not only does organizing make it look more attractive but it helps keep everything running more smoothly.  By eliminating the morning race to find one shoe or the special hair tie that your daughter just has to wear to school, life is much easier.  

As you’re organizing, also keep safety in mind:

-        Rearrange linen closets so that dangerous items such as medicines and cleaning products are kept on the top shelves away from toddlers.  Linens and towels, which won’t hurt them if they get into them, are better positioned on the lower shelves

-        Do a quick inventory of all toys to make sure that there are no missing or broken pieces.  Store small toys that could present a choking hazard to smaller children in see-through bins with lids on them.  Take a photo of each toy that is kept in the bin and tape it to the outside so your child knows exactly what belongs in there.

-        Check cold medicines and other prescription drugs to make sure that they have not expired.  Stock up for all of these items you will need during the upcoming cold and flu season.

-        Check that smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are still in good working order, and, if you don’t have a CO detector, place one outside every bedroom and one on each floor of the house.

Now is also a great time to prepare and practice emergency evacuation plans with your family.  Keep all emergency numbers on a laminated card attached to your refrigerator, plan an alternate escape route and assign a meeting place outside of the house in case of an emergency.

You can get more safety tips and enjoy some fun crafts at Lowe’s Safety Saturday which will be held at every Lowe’s store on Saturday, September 25^th from 10A – 2P.  

And don't miss the Twitter party! Watch my tweets for all the details! @mcsweeney

Love for my Unlovable Teen by Lisa Cherry

Today we welcome guest blogger Lisa Cherry. She are her daughter Kalyn will be on Kitchen Chat on soon. We'll be announcing the new schedule soon.

“You just don't understand! He is my life now! Don't take him from me! I can't live without him!” wailed my 15 year old daughter Kalyn. She was right about one thing. I didn't understand.

October 22, 2002 had progressed like most any other for our model Christian family. We were close, hard-working, tight knit, fun, and stable. As the mom of my larger-than-average brood of nine, I felt my life was exciting, fulfilling, and grand. That is why what happened to us was such a shock.

An $800 cell phone bill had brought our day to a screeching halt. As the phone numbers were identified with a middle-aged man from our church, the possibility of a billing error was considered. We launched a family investigation.

Kalyn entered our bedroom hesitantly. She sat in the green rocker at the end of our bed, and at first denied any role in the calls. But something did not feel right. Dad pressed his questions just a little harder. A look came over her face that I did not recognize. With cold, distant eyes she broke her stiff silence. “I made the calls. It was all my fault.”

So began our family's multi-year nightmare. Kalyn journeyed through the aftermath of what we were to later discover was teenage sexual abuse. She had become a statistic—one of the one in four girls sexually abused by age 18. Denial, rebellion, depression, suicide threats, cutting and eating disorders filled her teenage life. As her mother, I travelled the sea of anger, hurt, despair, fear, and torment. My beautiful, fulfilling life was transformed into what seemed like scenes from a bad B-rated movie. Never were we more tempted to give up and give in!

Kalyn’s behavior was so extreme that each day was a battle. Angry, irritable and hostile, she saw us as her personal enemies. None of the other children wanted to even come near her if they passed her in the hall. She resisted every form of motherly direction. It was just too much, and one day I came to the end of my mothering rope. I ran to my bedroom, locked the door, and threw myself on the bed. Deep, racking sobs shook my body as I cried out to God in my pain. Unthinkable words rose from my wounded soul. God, I can't feel any feelings of love anymore for my own daughter!

Me, not love my own child? How could my mother's love fail me? My own thoughts sent me deeper into despair.

That day marked a new chapter in my faith journey as I plunged deeper into the awesome healing power of my Heavenly Father's covenant of love. He spoke His words of hope so clearly to my heart. “Lisa, now you will understand the force of My love working through your weak vessel. It is supernatural. I will agape love your daughter through you. And remember, Lisa, My love never fails (1 Corinthian 13:8).” I grabbed onto my Father's words of hope!

How is my family today? We are healed and set free by the miracle working power of our King! Kalyn is a 23 year old bride-to-be, and together we have written a book about our mother-daughter journey to the edge of destruction and back. Kalyn's Secret: Every Parent's Battle to Save Their Children was released in bookstores on July 17. Truly, what the enemy meant for evil, our God is working for good.

As we share our family's story and what we learned, God is mending wounded hearts. And even more, He is awakening and equipping a new generation of parents and Christian leaders to be strong in battle for the hearts and souls of their kids. Can you hear His call? Do you need His healing power?

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Lisa & Kalyn Cherry - have weathered the storm of extreme teen crisis. On the victory side of their pain, this vibrant mother daughter team sounds an alarm and offer hope to parents and leaders of today's youth. Lisa is a conference speaker for Acquire the Fire/Teen Mania Ministries. She and her husband, Doug, founded Victory Christian Center, REALITY Youth Center and Frontline Families Ministries of Carbondale, Illinois. http://www.kalynssecret.com

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Love the one you're with.

Guest post by Deb Kalmbach (if you missed Deb's interview on Living Inspired a few weeks ago - check it out here. Some good stuff there!)  

I recently received an email from a friend with the subject line: Our society has stooped to an all-time low. A link to a commercial shows a middle-aged couple in bed. The husband tosses and turns while the homely woman next to him snores. The tag-line states something like this: There's only one thing worse than waking up in the morning and not knowing the woman next to you. And that's waking up with the same woman every day for the rest of your life. Then there's a link to a website.

Being curious, I checked it out. It looks like a legitimate site, basically promoting extramarital affairs. The site actually says: Life is short. Have an affair.

Yep, that's great advice. You could ask Tiger Woods or Elin Nordegren or Mark Sanford or Elizabeth Edwards, for that matter.     

I was 24 years-old when husband Randy's announcement shattered my world. He had met someone when he was away on temporary duty with the Air Force.

"Deb, I didn't mean for this to happen. I think I'm in love with her."

I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach, the wind knocked out of me. In a blink, the trust we had enjoyed during our first 6 years of marriage had been severed. I quickly learned that heartbreak is real.

I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I cried for days, if not weeks and months. I'm not sure how I managed to put one foot in front of the other and keep going for my own sake, as well as our little boys, ages five and two.

Randy said he wanted to work things out. He was confused and distraught. We started counseling and embarked on the arduous journey toward healing--one that's difficult to describe in a short blog. It all seems so tidy. We persevered. We made it through, even though it was tough. Yes, there is life and reconciliation possible after adultery. But at what price?
 
I can only say the consequences of infidelity are huge, devastating, life-altering. By the grace of God, I found the strength to go on, believing all things are possible with God, even impossible forgiveness. As strange as it may sound, I believe the scars Randy bore were more damaging than my own.

He couldn't accept what he had done, and turned to alcohol to medicate his pain and guilt. After many long years, he finally believed he could be forgiven.

So I say, Life is short. Love the one you're with, the husband, the wife of your youth. I can't think of anything sweeter than waking up each day with the man I love sleeping next to me--even if we both snore!  

~

Deb is the author of Because I Said Forever: Embracing Hope in a Not-So-Perfect Marriage (co-authored with Heather Kopp) and the author of a book for children, Corey’s Dad Drinks Too Much. She has been a contributor to many books, including The New Women’s Devotional Bible and Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace. She has written for Focus on the Family, Christian Parenting Today, and many other publications.

Deb married Randy Kalmbach at 19. They thought all they needed was love—and the possessions they could fit in their metallic blue VW bug! What they didn’t realize was how much it would take to live with adversity, disappointment and heartache. They never imagined their journey taking them into the depths of addiction with Randy battling alcoholism for almost 30 years before he experienced the miracle of sobriety.

Deb isn’t just theorizing when she gives hope and practical solutions to those who struggle with difficult relationships. Her own brokenness has given her great compassion and insight for others who are hurting. With her vibrant and engaging manner, she speaks profoundly about God’s faithfulness and how to embrace a God-honoring life in the midst of almost unbearable circumstances. Deb and Randy are grateful beyond words for their 39 years of “not-so-perfect” marriage.

They make their home in rural Washington State with their two lively Jack Russell Terriers, Kramer and Kosmo (yep - they even have their own blog!). Their grown sons, Chris and Jeremy, and a daughter-in-law, Jen, live on the Seattle side of the North Cascades Mountains. Find out more on her website: www.debkalmbach.com

Read Deb's other guest posts here.

Guest Blogger ... Pat Ennis

Detonating Discouragement

What do you mean when you speak of God answering your prayers? Most often do you really mean that He said “yes” to your petitions? One of the most challenging lessons for a Christian woman to learn is that “yes,” “no,” and “wait” are all responses to her requests.

What is your reaction when you earnestly pray that a situation will have a specific outcome, and the response from your heavenly Father is no or wait? Do you believe that there is no good thing that He will withhold from you if you are walking uprightly (Psalm 84:11) and focus on your responsibility of walking uprightly; or are you like Elijah when he fled from Jezebel to the wilderness, sat under a juniper tree, and wished to die (1 Kings 19:4)? The woman who chooses the response aligned with Psalm 84:11 embraces contentment, while the one who opts for an Elijah Effect is courting discouragement.

Discouragement, extracted from the Greek word athumeo, means to be disheartened, dispirited, and discourage;[1] it frequently occurs when there is a discrepancy between expectation and fulfillment. As an emotion, discouragement’s roots are frequently planted in the soil of unrealistic expectations. The greater the discrepancy between hope and fulfillment, the greater the potential for discouragement—and in many instances the resulting emotion of discouragement is actually anger without enthusiasm. You know from Scripture that anger for a selfish reason is sin (Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:32). An analysis of Elijah's life (1 Kings 19:1-22; 2 Kings 2:1-10) provides us with biblical guidelines for detonating discouragement.

Elijah emerged from his experience at Mount Carmel a victor—the 450 false prophets of Baal were destroyed, and the calamity of drought and famine brought about by idol worship ended (1 Kings 18:18-46). Regrettably, Jezebel did not share his enthusiasm over the victory—in fact, she was very angry (1 Kings 19:1-2)! Instead of surrendering, as Elijah expected, she issued an ultimatum to him, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time” (1 Kings 19:3). Elijah’s response is similar to that of many Christian women—they observe God perform repeated miracles in their lives—then a bit of minor turbulence occurs and the downward spiral of the Elijah Effect sets in:

· The cycle of fear of others or specific circumstances begins (1 Kings 19:1-2).

· The logical reaction is to run from the problem (challenge), as opposed to facing it head-on (1 Kings 19:3).

· Rather than meditating on God’s faithfulness, faulty negative thinking begins (1 Kings 19:4).

· The faulty negative thinking is fanned by emotional and physical fatigue which frequently produces discouragement (1 Kings 19:5-9).

· Further faulty negative thinking yields false expectations and unrealistic attitudes regarding the responsibilities God calls one to assume (1 Kings 19:10).

· These false expectations and unrealistic attitudes can lead to the cultivation of self-pity(1 Kings 19:14).

An intervention for the downward spiral of Elijah Effect must be applied for it to begin the reversal process—in Elijah’s case, as in ours, the intervention cycle to renew his spirit included:

· Resting and relaxing—too many times when the Elijah Effect begins women increase their activity rather than reduce it (1 Kings 19:5-9).

· Seeking solitude to focus on communion with God (1 Kings 19:9-13).

· Using the Word of God as a sword to fight the source of discouragement, Satan (Ephesians 6:17).

· Realizing that refreshment comes through resuming activity since it allows us to focus our vision outward rather than “soaking and souring.” Balancing the quantity of time invested and the intensity of the activity will ensure that the Elijah Effect does not recur (1 Kings 19:15-18).

· Allowing friends to minister to us (Proverbs 17:17). What blessings would Elijah and Elisha have been deprived of had either refused to accept God's friendship provision ?

As you consider Elijah’s life, are you a woman who chooses the Elijah Effect or embraces contentment when faced with circumstances that could breed discouragement? Remember that godliness with contentment is great gain (Psalm 37:16; 1Timothy 6:6) while despair plus discouragement equals spiritual disaster and purpose to detonate discouragement as you multi-task!

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We are excited to celebrate Pat's latest book release of Becoming A Young Woman Who Pleases God with her. You can purchase a copy HERE. She has graciously offered a copy to giveaway. Please leave a comment and we will choose a random winner next week.

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Pat Ennis taught Home Economics for the San Diego Unified School District while developing the Home Economics Department at Christian Heritage College. She moved to The Master’s College in 1987 to establish the Home Economics-Family and Consumer Science Department that she currently chairs. Pat authored Precious in the Sight of God, the Fine Art of Becoming a Godly Woman, and co-authored Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God, A Guide to Your Biblical Potential, Designing a Lifestyle that Pleases God , and Practicing Hospitality, the Joy of Serving Others. Her new book, Becoming a Young Woman Who Pleases God is due for a September release. You can visit her on her blog at www.masters.edu/Blogs/unfadingbeauty/

If you are interested in participating in Pat's research about God’s special instructions for women, click on the following links to compete the surveys.

My Perceptions on Homemaking Survey

What is Your Feminism Quotient? Survey

Kitchen Chat relaunch!

I'm whipping up something new in the kitchen over at Kitchen Chat! The show will be on a brief hiatus until February while my 'kitchen' gets a new location and a remodel. Excuse our mess during construction. :)  If you are looking for one of the podcasts or a recipe - those will be returning shortly as we get everything transferred over to the new location. Stay tuned for the new location and updated information.

In the meantime - enjoy a few of the past Kitchen Chat recipes:

Andy Andrews: Andy’s Smoked Fish Surprise.

Smoked Fish Salad
Start with your favorite white flesh fish. Squeeze lemon juice over fish, sprinkle with black pepper and brown sugar. Smoke fish on hickory wood on Low heat approx 200 – 250 degrees until done. Cool fish then crumble by hand

Assemble:
Mix mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish into crumbled fish to desired consistency
Mix with a big fork for best results.
Salt to taste
Serve on Sociable Crackers

Suzanne Woods Fisher: Whoopie Pies

4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup shortening
1 cup cocoa
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup thick sour milk
1 cup hot water

Cream together sugar, salt, shortening, vanilla and eggs. Sift together flour, soda and cocoa. Add this to the first mixture alternately with water and sour milk. Add slightly more flour if milk is not thick. Drop by teaspoons. Bake in hot oven at 350 until done.

Once cool fill with whip cream or your favorite frosting or filling.

Dallas Jenkins: Foolproof Steak

Pour some garlic salt and Lowry's seasoning on one side of the steak while you're heating up your frying pan, which should have been lightly coated with some olive oil, at very high heat. Once it's very hot, put the steak on, seasoned side down. Give it a minute or two, then pour the same seasonings on the exposed side before turning it over. Give it another minute or two--this sears both sides, which will trap the juices in. Then cook on low heat, turning the meat over every few minutes, until you have it where you want it.


Carl Raymond: CHICKEN BREASTS AND WILD MUSHROOMS IN MADEIRA SAUCE

Serves 4

3 tbsp butter, divided

4 chicken breast halves

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 lb wild mushrooms such as shiitakes, chanterelles or cremini, sliced

Juice from ½ lemon

2 tbsp chopped shallots

¾  c Madeira wine

¾ c heavy cream

¾  c shredded Gruyere cheese

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Heat 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet.  When butter has melted and stopped foaming, add the chicken and sauté 5-6 minutes on each side until golden brown.  Transfer to a 7” x 11” baking dish.  Add a bit of wine to the skillet and scrape up any carmelized juices on the bottom of the pan. Add the liquid to the baking dish.  Brush the mushrooms to remove any dirt, slice (remove stems if using shiitakes), and toss with lemon juice.  Add the butter to the skillet, stir in the shallots and sauté on medium heat for 2-3 minutes until softened.  Add the mushrooms, increase to medium-high heat and sauté about 5 minutes until they begin to brown.  Pour in the remaining wine and add the cream.  Continue to cook 3-4 minutes, stirring often until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly. Mix in ½ c of the cheese and stir until melted.  Pour the sauce over the chicken in the baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top.  Sprinkle lightly with chopped fresh thyme if desired.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until chicken has cooked through and sauce is bubbly.

Friday on Kitchen Chat: Rachel Hauck!

Welcome to this week's Kitchen Chat - Be sure to tune in on Friday at 11:00AM Central! To listen, follow the link and click on the player in the upper right hand corner.

I'm thrilled to meet our guest on Friday, author extraordinaire, Rachel Hauck! And, don't miss the amazing recipe Rachel has shared with us for the show - Béchamel Sausage. Wow.

About Rachel: Rachel Hauck's stories are filled with twists and turns that leave the reader breathless and longing for more.  She is a fresh fiction voice that's sure to stir hearts for God.

Debbie Macomber - #1 NYT bestselling author

I wrote my first story about a girl and her pony when I was ten. It was handwritten in a spiral notebook.

My second story was about a girl who wanted to move away and live in New York City. I was twelve and no one had ever heard of “chick lit.”

I laughed when I found that incomplete manuscript in an old box-o-stuff. I told my husband, “I was born to write.”

Words fascinate me. I love putting them together and dialoging with the characters who live in my heart and mind. I carry on conversations with them while driving down the road or sitting on a bike in Spin class.

People are as fascinating as words. I love hearing personal stories of romance, tragedy and triumph. I’d love to hear your stories, too, if you care to write to me. I’m always wondering “what if” about the human condition and see what string of events might develop into a new story.

My life as been molded by the encouragement of my parents and teachers, and by the places I’ve lived like Ohio, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Florida, and the people I’ve met along the way.

Readers ask, “Is any part of you in your stories or characters?”

The answer is always yes. All of us are impacted by the places we’ve been and the people we’ve met, if only for a moment. As a writer, those exposures show up in the stories I write.

After graduating from the Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, I traveled as a software trainer. From California to Maine, I experienced the beauty and heart of America and our people. In countries such as Australia, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Ireland and Canada came to see how people are just people. We all want the same things: love and happiness, laughter, faith and safety, and a bit of prosperity.

Those experiences make up the tapestry of my stories. Life-like characters that, by the book’s end, get in your heart and make you want to spend time with them over a latte or Diet Coke.

Looking back, I believe I’ve always written. If not in my journals or stories, in my heart. I was constantly taking note of the sights and sounds around me, the emotion of a moment: dinner with friends, the last night in college before graduation, racing through an airport to catch a flight to Australia, talking about Jesus with my translator in the back of a cab as we drove across Madrid.

Now, my days are spent mining those life experiences and emotions so I can share them with you through the eyes and ears of my characters and the places they live.

In ’92, I married my best friend, Tony, and spent over eighteen years in youth ministry with him. We love to read and go to the gym, and laugh at the antics of our pets.

A year later, I started my first novel, an epic WWII story that eventually found some light as a sub plot in my book Love Starts With Elle..

With the help and cheering of writing friends I met through American Christian Fiction Writers where I served as President and now as an Advisor, my first book was published in 2004, the same year I left the corporate world to write full time..

Since then I’ve become an award winning, best selling author of twelve novels with more to come. It’s my desire for you find hope and escape in my stories, and inhale a bit of the fragrance of Jesus’s love.

About Dining With Joy: Joy Ballard has a secret: she's a cooking show host who can't really cook.

When her South Carolina-based cooking show, Dining With Joy, is picked up by a major network, Joy Ballard's world heats up like a lowcountry boil.

Joy needs help. Then she meets chef Luke Davis who moved to Beaufort after losing his Manhattan restaurant. A cook at the Frogmore Cafe, he's paying debts and longing to regain his reputation in the elite foodie world.

Luke and Joy mix like oil and water…until Joy is exposed on national television. With her career and his reputation both under fire, they'll have to work together to fix the mess. Is it possible that they can learn to feast on God's love and dine with joy?

Win a copy of Dining with Joy when it releases in November! Leave a comment (HERE) (with your email address) - I'll draw one name at random and notify the winner via email.